Saturday, August 1, 2009

TUTORIAL 3


TUTORIAL 3

(1) Discuss the functions of rainforests with special reference on how it affects climate and vice versa.

Answer: E.g. Forests acts as carbon sinks, since green plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, turning it into carbohydrates. In this way, green plants control CO2 concentration in the atmosphere thereby storing carbon diokside in its tissues. Forests, therefore, can reduce global warming via reduction of CO2 (the major green house gas). In contrast, climate affects forests as different climate regimes produce different forest types - equatorial climate (like Malaysia) produces equatorial rainforests. Forests also produces oxygen via photosynthesis. Hence, forests regulate the composition of gases in the atmosphere.

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